Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-06-30
AMONG THE DlccERs.
6kstehas Takoa IN tbs Camp II N Oh.
seure TfihO 0f lndlAD>

6kstehas Takoa IN ths Camp II N Oh.
seare Tribs u Indlao>
Few people know that the Diggers.
who live in Pleasant Valley. and are
known as the Panblos, have musical
man among them. This Digger is
known as Bob He is . really good
performer on the guitar. flute. iife. vio-
lin. organ and harmonica- He has
played for several "pale face :"
dances. and handles violin like =
master.
He is pure-blooded Digger. and. so
far as he knows, none of his ancestors
were unsteady inclined.
The tribe" also boasts of having =
&c ntenarian, an old squaw. whose hair
is white as snow. whose daughter is
seventy-ive years old. and whose only
English ejaculation is Gimme two
bits"
Captain Pamblos is a short, wiry old
fellow. lie is about fifty years Of age.
and is one Of the most inveterate hunt
ers in the country. His unerring aim
has laid down many jackass rabbit
and humbled to the dust many aproud
woodpecker. The reason is this:
Whenever they have a dance. or. IS
they call it, "a big soup. they rig them
selves out as Enthusiastically rs possible.
Every buck who wishes to dance must
buy ticket. paying for it in good solid
American silver.
As ticket the scalp Of the wood
pecker recommends itself 1t is gaudy
and conspicuous. The tail feathers
of the yellow-hammer are also used
for the same purpose, two feathers be-
ing fastened to little stick which is
worn in the hair or carried in the
hand. These "big-soups" are frequent
A Digger will work hard for a week or
two when the acorns are ripe and lay
in a supply of them for winter. Then
he will notify some other tribe, and
all his relations back to the tenth gen.
Grafton will come to see him and help
him devour the whole lot Then they
invite the family Of the host to their
.'campooda," and so the visiting and
"big souping" goes on till all the rela-
tons have visited each other and there
are no more acorns to devour.
The Digger is child of nature. and
he cares little for the fashionable fol-
lies of the world. Some of them are
noted for their wicked ways, and one
of the Pamblos, hard ease known as
"Scar-Face Dick" or Dick Tomale. has
been a holy terror among his people
for many years. Several efforts have
been made to kill him by his tribe and
the Nevada City Indians. but all have
failed. He is the most intelligent Dig
ger of them all, and will discuss any
subject, not ignoring religious Wat-
tiers. But his favorite topic is spiritu-
alism. His arguments are often full
of dry. sarcastic humor. This dry
humor is part of the average Digger's
disposition. Captain Pamblos was
once passing house where young
lady was singing vigorously. He
paused and listened. Then turning to
a boy who was playing near he said.
gravely: why for she cly?" Dick
Tomale once listened gravely to sew
eral young men and women who were
discussing ghosts. At last he inter
rupted them. and in his drawing way
said: 'Ya-ss. believe in ghosts, too. l
met . ghost one night. WASN'T ex-
actly full. but l had some wine. 1t
was dark. and saw big. white ghost
get up out of the ground and stand in
front of me. hauled of and hit it
with my fist. you bet"
well. said . listener, "what was
it,"
Dick looked around mysteriously.
picked up his rifle. spat at fly on his
sleeve, and as he moved off with a
light and cunning air. said in loud
whisper: ut was q rock. ''-Nerado
City Herald.